Caspian Seal on verge of extinction

Gorgan, Dec 16, IRNA - The Caspian seal as the only Caspian aquatic mammal due to over-hunting, being trapped in fishermen's net, increasing sea pollution and industrial waste is facing extinction, and there is little time to permanently wipe out.

The Caspian seal is considered to be one of the smallest members of the world seals in recent years, and in the last rankings of animals in danger of extinction by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is considered in danger of extinction.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Caspian seal population has fallen from one million to less than 100,000 in 2008, and now poaching and sea pollution continue to threaten the last survivors, according to IUCN.

The southeastern shores of the Caspian Sea and Ashouradeh as the only Iranian island arethe best habitats of Seals and the bulk of the population lives in the region, which is based on the efforts of environmental activists and the support of the Dutch Seal Research Center, the Relief and Rescue Center in the Ashouradeh Island has been launched.